Ramsey, whose goal won the FA Cup at Wembley in May, smashed the ball home from close range as the Gunners came from behind to win their Barclays Premier League opener 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Defeat was harsh on the Eagles, who had produced a determined display at the end of a difficult few days following the shock departure of manager Tony Pulis on the eve of the new season.

Indeed, a first-half header from Brede Hangeland, one of the few summer signings sanctioned by chairman Steve Parish, had put the hard-working Eagles ahead.

Laurent Koscielny flicked home a free-kick from £30million Chile forward Alexis Sanchez to level before the break.

Arsenal lacked a cutting edge in the final third, creating only a few half-chances before Ramsey was on hand to slot home after Mathieu Debuchy's shot was saved - after Jason Puncheon had been sent off for a second yellow card.

United fans hoped Van Gaal's much-trumpeted arrival would wipe out the misery of David Moyes' ill-fated regime but it proved to be business as usual as Gylfi Sigurdsson steered the Swans to a 2-1 win.

Sigurdsson - making his second debut for the Welshmen - squared for Ki Sung-yueng to open the scoring on 28 minutes but Wayne Rooney pulled United level eight minutes after the break with an overhead kick.

But Garry Monk's men were undaunted and went on to claim the deserved three points when Sigurdsson swept the winner past David De Gea in the 72nd minute.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 29th minute when Kyle Naughton was sent off for handling a Kevin Nolan shot in the box, but Mark Noble fired the resulting penalty wide.

The Hammers were also reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute when James Collins was issued his second yellow card, and things got worse for the hosts as Harry Kane sent Dier clear to snatch the winner in added time.